NASA names rolling Mars rock after the Rolling Stones

Monday

The Rolling Stones can now count Mars within its sphere of influence. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced last week that it was naming a Martian rock after the iconic British rock band.

"Rolling Stones Rock" is a rock slightly larger than a golf ball that rolled 3 feet — the furthest NASA has seen a rock roll during a spacecraft landing on another planet — when NASA's InSight lander arrived on the Red Planet on Nov. 26, 2018.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. announced the name before the Rolling Stones took the stage in Pasadena, California last week, near the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

"What a wonderful way to celebrate the 'Stones No Filter' tour arriving in Pasadena," Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood said in a statement. "This is definitely a milestone in our long and eventful history. A huge thank you to everyone at NASA for making it happen."

The name "Rolling Stones Rock" isn't recognized by the International Astronomical Union, making it an unofficial nickname. However, the name will appear on working maps of Mars.